Week 4 - Blessings of Being a Missionary

Hello everyone!

So my week has been good. It actually is a little difficult to not write in "Finnglish" because Sisar Godfrey and I are on an English fast today. We have to use as much Finnish as possible to get thinking about what we know. It is actually easier than you'd think. So many missionaries here are learning a language that they don't really care what you say. They'll say something back in whatever language. It's so fun! Anyways onto my week!!

This week has been a mix of stress and learning. A little while ago I hurt my thumb playing Volleyball and this week has been a mix of so many doctor's appointments. Last Friday, I went to the doctor and he requested that I get an MRI. I was a little nervous but all was well. We called the MTC to come pick us up (we were at the hospital) and the driver went to the wrong place, so we were just waiting outside for forever. We turned down a couple of people for rides because we thought ours was coming, but he had returned to the MTC!!! We met a lot of really nice people and chatted about missions and Finland a lot. One lady was even nice enough to give us some money for lunch! turns out that missionaries are like charity I guess?! But we finally got back but we had to call the driver again. But then I had an MRI done on Monday night. That is so not fun for someone with claustrophobia. I didn't like it. Plus I was alone (minun toverini!!!) And the machine makes sci-fi noises. It was not that awesome, but I dealt. I sang some hymns and Christmas songs and trusted that the Lord wouldn't have me put somewhere unsafe. So I got that done. They didn't read it that night though. So I had some anxiety about what was wrong, but I finally had an appointment on Wednesday morning and my thumb isn't ruined! It tore the joint capsule, but that will heal without surgery.  It's basically bruised and healing. It was dislocated on impact with the lentopallo (volleyball) but it snapped back immediately. (Nursemaid's thumb??) That's what is causing me pain and annoyance though. (And I can't play volleyball anymore.) But my wearing my brace will heal it. Just takes some time. And I got to see my MRI and for someone who hates medical anything, it was nasty, but also interesting. I enjoyed seeing it, but was also grossed out. But that's it about my doctor's visits. It seems like that's all I focused on this week... Ehhh.. I've got spiritual stuff too. 

The MTC is basically like the city of Enoch. The missionaries and people here are basically Zion. We all have the same purpose and desires, and we have all aligned our will with God's will. It has such a strong Spirit here that "spiritual experiences" are around every corner. I think the only reason, the MTC hasn't been translated yet is because God needs us to be out and teaching His other sons and daughters. He wants all His children to have a knowledge of His love and gospel and that's why I'm here to share it. Anyways here goes... Every Sunday night and Tuesday night we have a devotional. On Sunday, we had Lux Singers come and sing some songs for our devotional. They were really cool, but I had never heard of them so if someone has and wants to give me a bit of background on them, that would be awesome! Then for our devotional on Tuesday, we had a special person come and talk to us. Elder Gary E Stevenson came and spoke about our Missionary Survival Kits. There's 3 things in them... 1: Scriptures are our firestarters. They keep our testimonies burning brightly. 2: White Handbook is the shelter. The obedience to the rules outlined in this book keep us protected and safe from dangers. 3: Preach My Gospel is our food and water. It keeps us sustained, so we always understand and know the doctrines of the church, and we can apply them to ourselves. He told us that not only is this a survival kit for our missions, but also for our lives. It was a really good talk. you could tell that he really had a testimony of missionary work and that he was really grateful to be talking to us. Another thing that happened recently. I was praying one night, and it was about something or another that I can't remember, but that isn't as important. I just felt God's love for me, and the knowledge that He loves all of you individually with the same magnitude that He loves me. It was so overwhelming to just feel that like it says in the Doctrine and Covenants section 9 verse 8. I suggest reading that section for your weekly reading. It is really good. I like it.

So last experience of the week! (if you want to hear about anything specific email me and let me know! I'll add more stuff to the emails or email you specifically!) We have what we call TRC every Wednesday evening where we teach a member at the MTC just about anything for practice in Finnish. Sisar Godfrey and I usually write a script, memorize it, and recite it. We decided that this week, we knew enough that we could just go by the Spirit. So we did. (we obviously studied words and phrases we just didn't plan exactly what to say.) We prayed beforehand to have the Gift of Tongues and to be guided by the Spirit. We said that we were putting our trust in the Lord to give us the Script based on what our member needed to hear. We talked about faith and read Ether 12:4-13. It's about the brother of Jared seeing the finger of the Lord then the Lord. It went so well. Much better than the past few. We were so proud. 

Thank you for listening this week!! I hope you are all doing well! I love you all so much and miss you tons!! Until next week!

Sisar McCammon

Hey Daddy!

My thumb really is okay. The worst part about the whole thing was honestly probably the MRI. I didn't like that at all. The doctor visits took a lot of time, but those are mostly over and the rest won't be during class. I was praying really hard that the Lord would heal it. Every meal and getting the elders and sisters around me to pray for me as well. It's all very much according to my faith. I put a lot of trust that the Lord needs me at the MTC and to go to Finland, so he's going to make sure I'm physically ready to go. It worked too. He healed me enough that everything is fine and reassured me the whole way through.

I definitely am working hard. I know that I'm not really the one learning the language. I'm memorizing rules and words, so when the time comes, the information is there for the Lord to organize and tell me what to say. I have an experience with that as well that I'm putting in my letter, so you'll have to read it there. Thank you for your wisdom. Christ really does make everything possible to do. He is the way for everything. He is all the paths to the top of mount Fuji. 

Mom - My emails with her are not quite so informative.  I we discussed a lot about what I needed to add to her package I just sent her.  And just dumb things that she wanted to know and day to day stuff, keeping up with friends, we just talk about random stuff. She is excited for Christmas and the lights and snow. Christmas in Finland should be a sight! She answers back to Bills letters, but not mine! We love the TV show When Calls the Heart and she likes to reminisce about it! LOL! Its so good to hear from her.  She's good!

Mostly I just want to say thank you to any and all who pray for Abbie every day and for those who prayed extra hard for her thumb to be healed!!! What a great blessing of healing and faith!  THANK YOU!!!  We just wanted to not have to have her worry about the added stress of surgery or the thought that maybe her time to Finland would be changed or shortened because of it.  The Lord does hear and answer prayers when we ask in faith!

Lots of pictures today!!!